Off The Beatle Track (Remastered) George Martin

• 1 All My Loving 02:52
• 2 Don’t Bother Me 02:59
• 3 Can’t Buy Me Love 02:08
• 4 All I’ve Got To Do 02:21
• 5 I Saw Her Standing There 02:12
• 6 She Loves You 02:20
• 7 From Me To You 01:57
• 8 There's A Place 01:57
• 9 This Boy 02:19
• 10 Please Please Me 01:55
• 11 Little Child 01:51
• 12 I Want To Hold Your Hand 02:22
• Total Runtime 27:13

Info for Off The Beatle Track (Remastered)

"Off The Beatle Track" was the first of a series of orchestral releases by George Martin and his first ever release under his own name. Originally released in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania, it was supported by the band and with liner notes written by John Lennon. Original copies of this vinyl are now in high demand due to its relatively limited release originally.

The record came at a time when orchestral music had begun to embrace the sound of beat music - something it had initially dismissed as a ‘noisy’ genre, dismissing its integrity entirely. As Beatlemania grabbed hold of the world in the early 60s, and with respected ‘high-brow’ newspapers such as The Times of London giving serious analysis of Lennon and McCartney's song writing, attitudes began to shift.

Overseen by Sir George Martin’s son Giles, Off The Beatle Track has been faithfully remastered from the original master tapes, replicating the original release.

By that time the Beatles had two albums, some EPs and singles released so there was a sufficient and diverse range of material for Martin to draw from. And it was time to cash in because Arthur Fielder, the Chipmunks, Keely Smith and others were already picking off Beatle songs for their versions.

And who might have a better claim to them than Martin?

So assembling his “orchestra” of jazz and studio musicians – he was well connected – Martin offered 12 instrumental interpretations of Beatles songs which cherry-picked their hits (All My Loving, Can't Buy Me Love, She Loves You, From Me to You, I Want to Hold Your Hand) as well as interesting album tracks and b-sides (Harrison's Don't Bother Me, This Boy, Little Child and others).

"George Martin was riding a whirlwind in 1964 -- in the midst of his second full year of success as the producer of the Beatles' music, now extended to America, he decided to avail himself of the opportunity to record his first album formally credited to him. And naturally it was an album of Beatles songs. Unfortunately, Martin wasn't shooting for posterity at the time -- it wasn't clear how long this Beatles craze would or could last -- he did create perfectly tasteful orchestral renditions of their music, somewhere between extremely light jazz and big-band pop. The way in which he personally resonates to the group's music is very obviously a long way from what most of the group's fans heard for themselves, and for completists and fanatics there might be some insights to be gained about his professional relationship to the Beatles' songs, as represented here; but for most casual listeners, apart from those with a fondness for elevator music, this will be an exercise in music making that can just as well be skipped." (Bruce Eder, AMG)

The George Martin Orchestra

Digitally remastered

George Martin
was a renowned British record producer, best known for his pivotal role in shaping the sound of The Beatles. Born into a struggling family, he developed a passion for music early in life, forming a band at fifteen and later attending the Guildhall School of Music. After serving in the Royal Navy, he began his career at EMI, where he became the head of Parlophone Records at just twenty-nine. Martin's collaboration with The Beatles began in 1962, initially marked by his skepticism about their potential, which quickly transformed into a successful partnership. He is often referred to as "the fifth Beatle" due to his significant contributions to the band’s music, including innovative arrangements and production techniques that helped define their sound. Beyond The Beatles, Martin produced work for various artists and contributed to film scores, such as those for "A Hard Day's Night" and "Live and Let Die." His influence on popular music is widely recognized, and he is celebrated for blending classical elements with contemporary rock, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to be felt today. Martin passed away on March 8, 2016, at the age of ninety, leaving behind a rich musical heritage and tributes from admirers around the world.

This album contains no booklet.